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WROW 8

Women's Rowing Athletic Communications

Hatters Open Season Saturday at UCF, Against Jacksonville

After 54 weeks away from competition, Stetson women's rowing gets to put its boats back in the water on Saturday when the Hatters face UCF and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference foe Jacksonville on Saturday at the UCF Intercollegiate Rowing Center on Lake Pickett.
 
Despite a year away from racing, the Hatters aren't wasting any time in terms of facing top-notch competition. UCF had won six straight American Athletic Conference championships before the pandemic intervened last spring, and Jacksonville has won five of the last six MAAC titles.
 
"We are excited to face both UCF and Jacksonville," Stetson head coach Katie Thurstin said. "I think we'll approach this weekend from a place of gratitude, and be grateful that we get to race. Of course, facing our biggest rival (Jacksonville) creates an added layer of excitement to the weekend."
 
As a competitive program, Stetson has made steady progress in Thurstin's four years at the helm. The Hatters finished fourth at the 2019 MAAC Championships, and Stetson was recently picked third in the MACC preseason poll.
 
"Last year we were faster than the year before, and this year we are faster than last year," Thurstin said. "We need to get out on the water and compete."

So what is Thurstin telling her team with their first competition in more than a year just days away?
 
"I'm reminding them to trust the process. They've done the training. Just go out and do what you do."

With COVID-19 impacting every collegiate athletic program in the country in one way or another, teams have had to find ways to cope and adjust to a knew reality. Stetson women's rowing was no different.
 
"The whole pandemic situation has taught the kids to be more resilient," Thurstin said. "There's a renewed sense of purpose because last year was taken away from us and we don't want it to be taken away again. We're going to be ready when it's our turn. We're going to step through that door when it opens."
 
Leadership is always important but perhaps now more than ever, student-athletes are being given a greater chance to lead.
 
"As we grow, we have to find the girls on the team that can step into informal and formal leadership roles," Thurstin said. "We've made a concerted effort to remind them that this is their team, not ours (coaches). We've seen a lot of girls stepping up to the plate."
 
Four team members who have stepped to the forefront as leaders are seniors Sarah Dittmann, Samantha Nivison, Channing Scott and sophomore Germaine Smart-Marshall. Nivison and Scott are former team captains, while Smart-Marshall and junior Ari Jimenez are current captains.
 
After this weekend's tussle, the Hatters will host Miami and Jacksonville on March 26, before participating in the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships on April 2. A dual meet with Drake, Florida Tech and Jacksonville follows on April 10, and the Hatters are scheduled to participate in the Lake Wheeler Invitational on April 23 in Raleigh, N.C.
 
The MAAC Championships are set for May 16 in New Jersey, with the NCAA Championships scheduled for May 28 in Sarasota, Fla.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
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Players Mentioned

Sarah Dittmann

Sarah Dittmann

COXSWAIN
Senior
Ari Jimenez

Ari Jimenez

ROWER/CAPTAIN
Junior
Samantha Nivison

Samantha Nivison

ROWER
Senior
Channing Scott

Channing Scott

ROWER
Senior
Germaine Smart-Marshall

Germaine Smart-Marshall

ROWER
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Sarah Dittmann

Sarah Dittmann

Senior
COXSWAIN
Ari Jimenez

Ari Jimenez

Junior
ROWER/CAPTAIN
Samantha Nivison

Samantha Nivison

Senior
ROWER
Channing Scott

Channing Scott

Senior
ROWER
Germaine Smart-Marshall

Germaine Smart-Marshall

Sophomore
ROWER